Babies born out of wedlock on rise

More than 1 in 4 delivered to unmarried, cohabitating couples

(MEDICAL DAILY) — A new government report shows that the percentage of children born to unmarried or cohabitating couples is rising.

About 27 percent of all first births from 2003 to 2010 were to unmarried couples compared to about a third less at 9.4 percent before 1985.

The latest statistics from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 22 percent of women gave birth to their first child were cohabiting with their partner, compared to 12 percent in 2002.